Inside Game: Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA (Ohio History and Culture) [Hardcover]

Wayne Embry (Author), Mary Schmitt Boyer (Author), Spike Lee (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ohio History and Culture | Publication Date: May 1, 2004

n the Fall of 1999, Wayne Embry was so highly thought of by his peers that he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the game. In the summer of 1999, the Cleveland Cavaliers thought so little of him that they replaced him as general manager. Now in his new autobiography, "The Inside Game," Embry, who was once sent home from a game in the old Richfield Coliseum when a bullet was found on his seat, tells the inside story of his fall from grace and the part he believes racism played in it. he deals with the unsavory dealings that led to his departure from the Cavs and introduces startling information about one of the most highly regarded coaches in the league. He discusses the social and economic changes affecting the league and other problems threatening to destroy it. What Embry most wants is to provide inspiration not only to those in the sports world, but to those in the worlds of business and education, where he has demonstrated leadership time and time again. His book is part historical perspective, part inside look behind the scenes, part business strategy and part social commentary, all told in a straightforward style sprinkled with humorous anecdotes. It is a virtual guide for how to develop and maintain successful intra-personal relationships.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Inside Game brings to bear the valuable insight of a man as intellectually sturdy as he is physically strong. -- Steve Love, coauthor, The Golden Dream

Wayne Embry doesn't just take you to the backboards of basketball, the former center takes you into the backrooms. -- Terry Pluto, Akron Beacon Journal

Wayne Embry's book, The Inside Game, is a compelling, thought-provoking journey from his childhood days, his professional basketball days, and his business experiences to the pinnacle of his chosen profession as a franchise executive. Wayne does a tremendous job of presenting the facts and allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. This book is a must for all people, not just those in the field of athletics. --Al Attles, Golden State Warriors

From the Author

Wayne Embry doesn't just take you to the backboards of basketball, the former center takes you into the backrooms where the real deals are cut. His discussion of the Shawn Kemp deal and the inner workings of the Cleveland Cavaliers front office are eye-opening, a must for any Cavs fan. Embry is a Hall of Famer, and this book is at that high level.
---Terry Pluto, Akron Beacon Journal

I have never known a more fair-minded man than Wayne Embry. He unselfishly shared his knowledge of the game with other general managers and coaches for many years. The NBA has lost his knowledge and background as a five-time NBA All-Star, as well as successful general manager in Milwaukee and Cleveland, and sorely misses his presence. This book blends basketball and inspiration into a must read for all ages.
---Pete Newell, Hall of Famer and Legendary Coach

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: University of Akron Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931968144
• ISBN-13: 978-1931968140
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Hard-Hitting Read, March 30, 2005

By 

James Acho (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside Game: Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA (Ohio History and Culture) (Hardcover)

I just finished this book tonight, and it's one of the best sports autobiographies I've read in ages, and I read most of them. Wayne Embry is a pioneer, and a man that overcame a tremendous amount of racism and adversity in his life to become a power player (GM) of 2 NBA ballclubs.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Embry in passing at camps, and he was a kind gentleman. I always admired him but never knew all that he went through. To be fair in my review, I must say that in reading the book, he seems at times overly-sensitive in his analysis of some situations, especially those with Cavs ownership, and that he often seems to have felt slighted, when he may have just been a casualty of an underachieving ballclub, and NOT the victim of racism.
Either way, the man is an intellect, and also found success in business as a big-time McDonald's franchisee and sat on the BOD of several Fortune 500 companies, as well as a trustee of his alma mater, Miami of Ohio. A man who has been married to the same woman for almost 50 years. A man of conviction.
I say this for Embry, whether or not you agree or disagree with his views, he pulls no punches. He tells it like it is, and does not sugar coat things in this book. There's nothing worse than shelling out $20 or $30 for a book, and then you get nothing but cliche nonsense, or the same old fuzzy stories you already knew from the sports pages or internet.
This book is a must for old-time/vintage NBA fans or those who wonder what it's like to be a GM of a team. Wayne Embry was not only a physical specimen, but a cerebral giant of a man, and this is one helluva read. Kudos, Big Wayne. Regards, James R. Acho, Esq. www.cmda-law.com

5.0 out of 5 stars A Trailblazer On And Off The Court, September 19, 2008

By 

Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Inside Game: Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA (Ohio History and Culture) (Hardcover)

Though published through the regional University of Akron Press, the autobiography of Wayne Embry is essential reading for basketball fans, sports historians and those intrigued on how sports reflects the games played by the power brokers in society.

Embry was a professional player and climbed the corporate ladder in the NBA during eras when the racial divide was felt in locker rooms and in neighborhoods throughout the nation.

Perhaps mostly known nationally as the executive who traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers - Embry drew the ire of Cleveland Cavalier fans for the trading of Ron Harper, which is covered in depth.

But it's within the inside game on the hardwood floor of life - that needed the finesse of a swift ball-handling point guard and the sharp elbows of a tough power forward - where Embry ultimately excelled. He did not close the doors of opportunity when he maneuvered into a position to take advantage of a small opening, but has been a trailblazer by leading the way for many others into successful careers in pro basketball and the corporate world.